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C-section numbness

post #1 of 15
11/9/00 at 1:26am
Thread Starter 
I had a c-section 8 months ago, and have yet to regain all of the feeling near the incision area. Is this normal? There are certain spots that are still numb although it is much better than 2 months ago.

Also, I've never regained the feeling in my bladder. I know that sounds strange, but I never get the urge to go to the bathroom. As a matter of fact, I don't realize it until my bladder is very full and starts to hurt.

I had abdominal surgery the year before my c-section and I vaguely remember this sensation, or rather lack thereof, but things returned to normal a few months later.

Is this common after a c-section, and if so, how long until things returns to normal?
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post #2 of 15
11/9/00 at 3:31am
Hi Dawn

I didn't have a c-section but I had the same problem with my bladder after my first baby. Apparently they had damaged my bladder with the forceps. By the time Kayla was like 2 1/2 months old I couldn't go anymore. But I didn't realize I had a problem until it was too late. It took about a year after she was born before everything was back to normal. But I still have to be careful and make sure I don't hold it for too long. I hope everything gets back to normal for you pretty soon.
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post #3 of 15
11/9/00 at 8:57am
Thread Starter 
Thanks! It's just nice to know that I'm not nuts. Sometimes it's difficult to go to the doctor with an odd complaint such as this because you've never heard of it before.

Did your condition require any medical treatment or did it just progressively get better over time? I'm not sure what to do about it just yet.
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post #4 of 15
11/9/00 at 12:58pm
Hi Dawn,

Mine did require medical treatment because I wasn't making myself to go when I didn't have the urge. My bladder was stretched so much by the time they found out that I had to use a catheter ever 3-4 hours for a couple of months. But mine went past just the urge and when I did realize I had to go I couldn't. Hopefully since you realize that there is a problem then your bladder won't get stretched too much because that is when my problem really started. And yes it was really hard to go to the doctor about it but once I did I didn't feel so bad. And it was good to know that I wasn't crazy and their really was a problem.
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post #5 of 15
11/10/00 at 10:19pm

Numbness...

Hi, Dawn! Probably not what you want to hear, but I had my C-Section five years ago and to this day, I still have total numbness in the one (or so) inch radius completely surrounding my incision. No one's ever been able to offer anything to me other than "nerve damage," but it looks like it's something I'll have to live with for the duration! I could literally stick a straight pin on my skin there and not feel a thing. :-(

Most people I know who have had Sections have regained most or all feeling in the area after the first year post-surgery...you'll most likely be one of them!

Can't offer anything on the bladder thing with the Section (actually, I noticed more bladder "issues" after my vaginal birth last year!),

Tonja
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post #6 of 15
12/5/00 at 10:09pm

c section numbness

It has been 5 1/2 mo. since my section and my incision area is still not normal. I wish that mine was numb though. Mine is very sensitive at times. In fact it almost has a tingling/ itchy sensation at times. It is very annoying. I thouhgt that I was the only wierd one though. It is amazing all of the little tricks that your body plays on you after birth huh? i have had no bladder problems- dfespite my recovery room nurse telling me that I probably would.
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post #7 of 15
12/5/00 at 10:57pm
Thread Starter 

Ooh -- been there!

I had the itchy/tingly thing too. As a matter of fact, I still get the itches occasionally, but I try and try to scratch and I can't feel it. Weird, huh? It's like a really cruel form of punishment!

Another thing that I've noticed is what must be scar tissue. If I get too bloated, I start aching, almost cramping and it feels like my abdominal muscles are just knotting up.

And I'm still really tender around the incision. I suppose if I did a few of those sit-ups that we are discussing on the other forum that I might be able to fix that!
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post #8 of 15
1/12/01 at 4:37pm

I was told I may never regain the feeling of my lower stomach again!

Hi! I too had a C-Section my was an emergency though! But,I was told I may never regain the feeling of my lower stomach again! when I touch my lower stomach it feels cold to the touch! I can't even feel my daughter kick me down in my lower stomach I have to see her kick me before I know she has even kicked me!
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post #9 of 15
2/17/01 at 11:22pm
Dawn, I also had a C-section with Austin and it took awhile to get the feeling back right at the incision site. With my C-section they cut me up and down not bikini which was hard!!
I also experienced, the cramping knotty feeling in the site for a bit to. I think it was just the muscles and everything healing. How long have you had that feeling. Mine lasted for a couple of months. It was a good 7-8 weeks before I felt "back to normal".

I also had some post partum depression, just feelings of not feeling worthy or overwhelmed. I talked to my Dr. and got through it. It lasted about 6 months, before I felt like myself again.
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post #10 of 15
3/3/01 at 3:06pm

It is normal for some women to have the numbness.....

I had my section 5 months ago and still have the numbness. Some women never get the feeling back. When the doctors do the section they cut through muscle and tendons and nerves in your stomach. That is where the numb feeling comes from. A c-section is major surgery. When the nerves reconnect and heal correctly the numbness may go away.
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post #11 of 15
3/8/01 at 11:53pm
I have had 2 c-sections. The first, I never got the feeling back, but it was due to the way I was stitched up. My second was over 4 years ago and I had feeling after 8 weeks. Try massaging the area. I hope all gets better. I hated when there was no feeling.
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post #12 of 15
3/27/01 at 5:32pm

numbness

Yep its almost been 10 months since my c-section and I am still numb too...weird feeling like when your foot goes to sleep...you can feel your finger touching the spot but can't feel where you are touching. I hope it goes away too..kinda an eerie feeling.
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post #13 of 15
4/3/01 at 4:41pm

me too

Sounds like it is pretty normal for anyone that had a C-section. I had one about 9 month ago and the area is still numb to the touch. And if I wear pants that are a little tight in the stomach, it gives me really bad stomach cramps, and really the pants aren't like skin tight by any means. Everyone tells me to get pants that fight because I wear baggy ones, but that is what feels good on my belly.
As far as the bladder feeling. I swear I only go like 3 times a day. I hardly ever get the feeling it seems like.
But I have always heard and my doctor told me, you won't feel like yourself for at least a year.
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post #14 of 15
9/9/01 at 5:39am
I had a c-section 7 weeks ago and am still numb near the incision thank you all for sharing I was scared that something was wrong with me, nobody ever told me that I would be numb and i was scared to tell my dr. about it.
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post #15 of 15
9/19/01 at 1:43am
I had an emergency c-section when they delivered Michael prematurely and it was almost a year before I regained any feeling back.
It felt very wierd when I would shower with my bathing sponge and I hated the feeling of numbness...it felt like I could never tell if I was washing that part of my body even though I knew I was.


Sandra
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